Montauk-born-and-raised fine art photographer James Katsipis celebrated the debut of his new exhibition, Solitude, with an intimate VIP dinner and cocktail party at Bagatelle in Montauk on August 27th. Set against the waterfront backdrop of Gosman’s Dock, the evening brought together art collectors, friends, and members of the Montauk community for a night celebrating photography, the ocean, and the enduring spirit of the East End.
The 15-piece exhibition marked a new partnership between Katsipis and Bagatelle Montauk, pairing the photographer’s deeply personal relationship with the sea with the restaurant’s glamorous French Riviera-inspired atmosphere. The never-before-seen works explore Montauk at twilight, capturing fleeting light, shifting movement, and the quiet, cinematic moments that define the coastline.
For Katsipis, the subject is deeply personal. Born and raised at the “End of the World,” he has spent more than two decades photographing oceans and coastlines around the globe, from his hometown shores to remote destinations including Iceland, Peru, Ireland, and Panama. His work transforms the power and unpredictability of the natural world into atmospheric fine art, balancing technical precision with a distinctly emotional point of view.
Among the works featured in Solitude are The Watchman, depicting a lone surfer standing along the cliffs as the final light fades over Montauk; The Quiet Between, an impressionistic study of sea and sky at twilight; and Passing Through, in which light trails transform a fading blue-hour landscape into a study of movement and color.
Katsipis’ photography has appeared in galleries, books, magazines, major campaigns, and private collections worldwide. He has also worked with brands including Estée Lauder, La Mer, Donna Karan, Volcom, Patagonia, and Pucci, establishing a career rooted in adventure, ocean culture, and fine art.
At Bagatelle, Solitude finds a fitting home. The waterfront destination brings the energy of the French Riviera to Gosman’s Dock, where Mediterranean cuisine, sweeping harbor views, music, and Bagatelle’s signature joie de vivre create a natural complement to Katsipis’ evocative vision of the sea.
Together, the exhibition and partnership offer a fresh perspective on Montauk—one that feels both distinctly local and entirely transportive.
